Living Inexpensively in an Expensive World

Welcome back!

Let’s face it, in today’s economy it is an understatement to say that “living is expensive”. Just recently, my husband and I did our budget trying to determine ways to save and ways to pay down debt. The way that we worked the budget this time around, we discovered that his entire paycheck goes to “necessities”, mortgage, insurance, groceries, gasoline, propane, electricity, water, sewer, you get the point. Next to none of his paycheck is left for “extras” or for “debt reduction”. That’s where my income comes in.

That’s also where living “inexpensively” or frugally comes in. I have tried many times to be “more frugal”. Sometimes, I have succeeded, but sometimes I’ve failed miserably. I think the important thing is that I “try”. I have always been taught to be a good steward of what I have. I believe all that we have comes from God and as a result we are responsible to Him for what we do or do not do with what He gives us. As a result, I am always one to be a wise spender. I meal plan, I dabble in couponing, and I shop the clearance racks. In fact, most of my clothes have been obtained either as gifts at Christmas or my birthday, or from clearance racks or even “hand-me-downs”. Yes, I’m fortunate to receive those from close friends, both for myself and my children.

I don’t feel by doing this that I am “slighted” in life in anyway, in fact the opposite is true, I feel blessed to have the things that I do have, and I am always looking for ways to “save”. Many times, the opportunity to live inexpensively is a bit easier to do than you think. You’ll find “savings” opportunities in the strangest of places if you just take the time to see what’s already there to begin with, you may not “need” the things that you so desperately “wish” that you could have.

Living Inexpensively or at least “less expensive” is doable in this expensive world.

This post if for the contest being held here.

Why You Should Never Forget Your Coupon Binder

This week I made several unexpected trips to the larger town where I buy groceries.  As a result, I decided to buy groceries early and hustled to get my list and coupons together.  Instead of taking my entire coupon binder I grabbed the coupons I wanted to use, stuck them in an envelope and went on my merry way.

When I got to the store I found several items on sale that I had coupons for, but guess what?  My coupon binder was back at home with those coupons inside doing me no good at all.  Needless to say I was beating myself up  over that all up and down the aisles of the Super Walmart.

I’ll tell you what, I have about decided that I’ll never leave home without my coupon binder, you just never know when you might need it.

Photo credit: Cote

How I Have Time for Couponing

I have heard it 1000 times.  “I don’t have time for couponing.”  That is what many people say and honestly I could say the same thing.  With a 9 month old, a 2 year old, a 5 year old and working from home I don’t really have “time” either.  But I believe that anything that saves me time or money is worth doing.  Couponing saves me money and since I’ve gotten serious about it, for approximately two months now, I have seen even bigger savings than ever.  To date since March 1, 2009 I have saved $226.  That’s a big savings amount to me.

So, just how do I have time for couponing?  Well, over the past two months I’ve developed some strategies.  I enjoy routine and I like to have a plan.  I believe that with a plan you can accomplish just about anything.  So, first I started reading more couponing or frugal blogs.  I already had a few favorites but quickly found more.  I read:

Deal Seeking Mom

The Centisble Sawyer

$5 Dollar Dinners

Bargain Briana

Then in addition to reading some great frugal blogs I also hang out and find great coupons and deals over at A Full Cup.com ‘the forum site for couponers.  I even became a supporting member because of how much the place had truly helped me.

Finally, at the advice of many of the bloggers and the folks on the forums I created for myself a coupon binder.  This is a huge lifesaver.  Yes, it took me some time to develop mine and some time to put it together as well as time each week to add the coupons, but the organization it provides is priceless.

I do clip coupons and I clip weekly.  I have been getting the paper for several weeks now and will clip the coupons from there.  I usually clip them on Saturday.  I also print coupons as I see some that I need when I’m reading the blogs that I read many times they will point out the high value printables and I”ll print them and stack them with my inserts to clip at my “clipping time”.  I have developed the routine of clipping at one set time.  Last weekend I clipped on Saturday morning.  This week we had a trip out of town to the doctor for my son and I took the coupons with me and clipped on the ride down there as my husband was driving.  My husband was super impressed with how many coupons I had after clipping through just one ALL YOU magazine that I had picked up at Walmart on Thursday.  I am getting a subscription to all you from a Southern Living rep, Lori, because it is a significant discount.  $17.99 for 2 years. I normally pay about $2.49 in Walmart each month for the magazine.

Stay tuned for another post on “How I Plan to Use my Coupons Each Week”.  I’d love to hear how you fit couponing into your busy schedule.

photo credit: lvngwell

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